Algorithms for the Automatic Four-Dimensional Guidance of Aircraft, Taking into Account the Current Wind Situation

摘要

An automatic time-of-arrival control flight mode covering the terminal maneuvering area was developed for the digital flight-control system of the HFB 320 test aircraft and flight tested. The algorithms used for computing four dimensional flight paths taking into account the current wind situation are described. Methods for measuring, filtering, and predicting the wind vector are developed and discussed with reference to the results of the flight tests. Evaluation shows that time error limits of + or - 5 sec can be achieved under varied wind situations. The aircraft-oriented method of wind prediction by extrapolation, based on the Kalman filter method, proves to be particularly efficient.